Evaluation - Perry

• strengths

  Control of extraneous variables The use of a computerized version of the CID task and a carefully designed room choice experiment provided precise and objective measures of interpersonal distance preferences.
• Generalisability

  The study included only male participants, significantly limiting its generalisability. The hormonal, psychological, and social dynamics can differ markedly between genders. Consequently, the study’s findings cannot be to females, who may respond differently to OT in terms of interpersonal distance preferences.
• Reliability

  The study’s design, which included two different but thematically related experiments (CID and Choosing Rooms), provided an opportunity to test the consistency of findings across different methodologies. The replication of similar results across these two distinct experimental setups significantly enhances the reliability of the findings. In research, the ability to replicate results under different conditions is a key indicator of their reliability.
• Validity

  High internal validity – The double-blind, placebo-controlled design is the gold standard for clinical research. In this study, neither the participants nor the experimenters knew whether OT or a placebo was administered, which significantly reduced biases.
• Reduced ecological validity – The use of computerized experiments, while advantageous for standardization and control of experimental conditions, may reduce ecological validity. The simulated nature of the tasks might not accurately capture the nuances of real-life social interactions where interpersonal distances are negotiated.
• By standardizing the experimental conditions and ensuring that all participants were exposed to the same stimuli in a controlled environment.
• The study minimized external variables that could otherwise confound the results. This methodological precision enhances the credibility of the findings.